Rotary drilling machine



Emma I Feb. 25, E936.

' T. C. PATTEN ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE 21 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 23, 1934.

T. C. PATTEN ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 23, 193 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1936 PATENT OFF-ICE ROTARY DRILLING MACHINE Thomas C. Patten, Tyler, Tex.

Application October 23, 1934, Serial No. 749,505

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a rotary drilling machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described especially de igned for rotating and handling pipe in the well bore. The machine is particularly designed for the purpose of rotating the drill stern in well drilling as well as for supporting the stem while the same is being made up and lowered into the well, or broken up and withdrawn from the well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary drilling machine having a novel type of base with a novel type of rotary table mounted to rotate on the base.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotary table shaped to receive pipe-holding slips which are longer than can be accommodated by the present type of rotary table. A longer type of slip than now commonly used and having a greater gripping area to grip the pipe or drill stem is very desirable particularly in deep-well drilling.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement of antifriction bearings on which a table is mounted to rotate.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a slip retainer arranged to catch and retain a slip section that may be accidentally dropped so as to prevent the same from falling into the well.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 shows a vertical sectional view of the rotary drilling machine.

Figure 2 shows a fragmentary sectional view of another form thereof, and

Figure 3 shows a plan view showing the table partially broken away.

In the drawings the numerals I, I, designate the foundation timbers on which the bedplate 2 is mounted.

The central portion of the bedplate is formed into a housing 3 which is of an approximately inverted, frusto-conicai shape. The inside wall of the housing is formed with the annular raceways 4 to receive the bearings 5. Each series of bearings may be mounted in the usual cage, if desired, to maintain them in assembled relation, these cages, however, not being shown.

At its lower end the housing has an inside annular flange 6 on which rests the external flange I of the tubular slip retainer 8. Above the flange I, the retainer converges upwardly.

There is a rotary table 9 of circular formation and having the flange II] which overlies the upper end of the housing 3, and whose underside has the gear teeth I I. These teeth mesh with the teeth of the bevel driving pinion I2 which is fixed .on the shaft I3, and this shaft in turn is driven by the sprocket wheel I4 mounted thereon and adapted to be clutched therewith and declutched therefrom by means of clutch I5 which is splined on the shaft.

The table has a downwardly tapering extension I6 whose external surface rideson the antifriction bearings 5, as illustrated in Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the rotary table has a downwardly tapering inside seat ll to receive the pipe engaging slips or holders I8.

As illustrated in Figure 2, the rotary table 9' has the downwardly converging extension I6 in which the drive bushing I9 is fitted. This driving bushing is usually formed rectangularly and has the inside downwardly converging seat'll' to receive the pipe engaging slips I8.

The depending extension of the rotary table makes it possible to use a very long slip so that the slip will provide a greater pipe gripping area than is the case with slips now commonly used so that a long string of drill pipe may be securely held while carrying on deep drilling operation.

These slips are seated in the inside seat I! or I7 and are arcuate in horizontal cross-sectional contour so as to surround and grip securely the drill pipe 20. The slips may be handled by the grips 2|, 2|; provided for the purpose.

The lower ends of the slips are outwardly flared as at 22 so that in case a section of the slips is accidentally dropped, the lower end thereof will engage over the upwardly tapering extension of the slip retainer 8 so that said section will be retained and will not be dropped into the well. With drilling equipment now commonly used it often happens that a slip section drops into the well bore and must be fished out before drilling can proceed and this isa very tedious operation, often causing long and expensive delays. With the equipment herein described, it, would be practically impossible to lose a section of the slips in the well bore.

The rim ill of the rotary table may have an oil duct 23 normally closed by the plug 24 and through which a lubricant may be introduced into the race-ways 4 to lubricate the bearings, the 55 1. A rotary drilling machine comprising a base formed with a housingprovided with an inside, downwardly converging wall, said wallliaving annula'r channels, bearings in the channels, a rotary table having a downwardly converging extension which is supported on the bearings, andan upwardly tapering, tubular slip retainer on the base beneath said extension.

2. A rotary drilling machine comprising a base having a table housing, a rotary table supported on the housing and having an extension within the housing, a downwardly converging slip seat in the extension provided to receive pipe holding slips, and an upwardly tapering slip retainer on the base beneath said seat.

3. A rotary drilling machine comprising a rotary table having a depending extension provided with an external downwardly tapering surface, a base having a housing whose inner wall converges downwardly to conform approximately to the external shape of, and to receive, the extension, bearings between the extension and housing, said extension having an elongated, downwardly converging slip seat therein, and an upwardly tapering tubular slip retainer on the base beneath the seat.

4. A rotary drilling machine comprising a base having an opening to receive a vertical pipe, a tubular slip retainer on the base through which the pipemay extend, said retainer being tapered upwardly, and a rotary table on the base having a slip seat above the retainer.

5, A rotary drilling machine comprising a base having an opening to receive a vertical pipe, a tubular slip retainer on the base through which the pipe may extend, said retainer being tapered upwardly, a rotary table on the base having a slip seat above the retainer, and pipe engaging slips in the seat whose lower ends are outwardly flared.

6. A rotary drilling machine comprising a base,

. a rotary table on the base having a slip seat, a

tubular slip retainer carried by the machine and aligned beneath the seat to permit the passage of a vertical pipe through the seat and retainer, the upper end of the retainer being contracted. THOMAS C. PA'I'I'EN. 

